Continued Table-Toppery

Going forward, this thread shall host the continued adventures of that merry band of misfits who survived the ordeal of Unferth Manor, along with any fellow-travelers who may wish to join them.

To cut down on the rapidly-multiplying redundancies in our communication methods, this forum will replace the Facebook group and Discord chat for purposes of discussion, scheduling, and in-character play. We will continue to use Discord whenever we have a live session on Roll20.

Please use this thread or the private messaging on DnD Beyond to communicate with me player-to-DM. I encourage everyone to check their notification settings, and make sure they're getting notifications when somebody posts.

Please respond to this thread with a quick greeting NLT Saturday, September 22nd.

Once we have a minimum of four players on board, I will lay out the plans for your ongoing shenanigans. I encourage everybody to look at the other play-by-post threads in this forum to get a sense of how they are played, esp. if you have not done PBP before.

Sir Maurius Van Der Wuulf is the last survivor of a minor noble house, once wealthy and respectable, now fallen on hard times.

In his quest to revive his family fortunes, he frequently has recourse to the services of novice adventurers, being the best cheap mercenary help he can afford these days. As part of his project to rehabilitate his holdings, he hired four inexperienced freelancers to investigate and eliminate a curse plaguing a rural manor house that recently came into his possession. The adventurers successfully liberated the estate from the vengeful spirit of its former lord, earning a modest stipend, as well as Sir Marius’s respect and gratitude.

Expecting to call upon their skills again, Sir Marius offered the adventurers lodging in the upper rooms of a modest public house which he lately acquired. The four companions have spent a quiet tenday at these lodgings, attending to their own business as best they see fit. During this time, they were also introduced to a new comrade-in-arms, one just come into Sir Marius’s service…

Current party members, please describe how you spent the last tenday. This can include purchases and investigations you’ve already detailed in FB or Discord - feel free to copy and paste. After all four have posted, Balasar will describe how he came into Ser Marius’s service, and we will proceed to RP his introduction to the party.

Elaric spent much of his time studying and translating from the abberation book (as well as comparing the runes to those of his mysterious tome). His results are mostly detailed in the book's item description in the equipment section of Elaric's character sheet (I can copy and paste if anyone wants). Beyond that, he has been offering his assistance to the rest of the party in what ways he may.

Beyond perusing the markets, Wendell has been attempting to assist Elaric where he can and has been trying to ferret out leads to spells or magical instruction. Research into the scroll they found at the Unferth Estate has determined that it is a Knock scroll. Wendell and Elaric have agreed to hold onto this scroll until the have the funds to further research the spell it contains. Wendell has also been working with Gong, attempting to get a better grasp of basic self defense.

Skoth assisted in the examination of the tomb recovered from the last adventure. He also retreated for a few days into the wilderness reappearing in town looking a dour as ever but seemingly a little more willing to engage with his companions. He spends much of his time confined to his room.

Gong has spent the majority of his time either in quiet meditation or mentoring Wendell. He has also spent some of his gold to procure a couple of items for his supplies: a grappling hook to go with the rope in his Explorer's Pack as well as a Healer's Kit. He also picked up a set of Carpenter's Tools.

In the course of Balasar's travels, he received word that Sir Maurius was looking to hire adventurers in the course of attempting to restore his family fortunes. The Van Der Wuulf family is an old ally of clan Delmirev, so Balasar signed on, hoping to aid the recovery of the Van der Wuulf family.

After a quiet tenday, the party is gathered in the common room of the public house, enjoying a hearty dinner in company with others of the Van Der Wuulf household. The fire roars on the hearth, and a quiet patter of rain drums against the windows. An aged dwarven harper sits at the head of the room, playing and singing an ancient lay of his people, a saga of feud and vengeance.

As the song comes to an end, a stranger comes in out of the rain, shaking water from his cloak - a Dragonborn.

The stranger towers over the room as he straightens up after ducking through the door. He stands well over 6.5 feet tall and is solidly built. The floorboards creak under his footsteps as he hangs his cloak to dry near the fire, which glints off of brassy scales. His attire seems to be of good quality; not ostentatious, but well-made for an active life on the road. He wears no armor that anybody can see, though a two-handed greatsword is conspicuous among the equipment he carries.

He approaches the party as they enjoy their meal. Wendell; Elaric; Skoth; and Gong, I presume, he says, nodding at each in turn as he says their name. Good evening, and please forgive the intrusion. I am Balasar. Sir Maurius has hired me to join you in resolving another of his problems. He invites us all to dine with him tomorrow evening, at which time he will explain the task he wishes us to undertake. In the meantime, he has asked that I make your acquaintance, which I am pleased to do.

As he speaks, Balasar hands Wendell a letter, which bears Sir Maurius' seal, as proof of what he says.

Be it known that the bearer is one Balasar Delmirev, of the House Delmirev, being the Ninth Heir of the Seventh House of the Third Circle from the Holy Throne. His family are old and trusted allies of the line of Van Der Wuulf, and, Heaven willing, his sword shall bring honor and victory to our cause. I have appointed him to join your cadre, which I expect to again dispatch on an errand as urgent as it is perilous. More shall be revealed tomorrow evening, when you are all invited to join me for supper at my house. For now, take your ease, and make acquaintance of your new comrade.

your humble and grateful employer,

Sir Maurius Van Der Wuulf

Order of action/conversation:

1. Gong (dex 17)

2. Elaric (dex 16, wis 16)

3. Wendell (dex 16, wis 15)

4. Skoth (dex 14)

5. Balasar (dex 13)

[If a PC asks a question or otherwise invites reply, the response is made on that PC's turn, before normal turn order continues. Any PC may Pass their turn. If all PC's Pass, you all retire for the night.]

Gong gives a "Hm," and a polite nod at the new party member. He feels that everything of importance has been said for now, and that all other necessary information will be revealed at tomorrow's meeting.